Archive

We rang in the new year with a doosy of a flu in our house, but now we are through it, settled back into our school routine, and even looking for a fun day outing! Fortunately, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy museums in Chicago for FREE this month:

“Speak Up, Speak Out for Freedom and Rights,” on Monday, April 23, 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM, at Student Center West and the Forum at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This seminar is FREE to the first 100 registrants.

The seminar will provide a unique opportunity for teachers to engage in discussion on global citizenship, with morning workshops by the partners, a luncheon keynote from former President Jimmy Carter, and the opening afternoon of the World Summit with Nobel Peace Laureates. A draft agenda is available here. The seminar is accessible by CTA, and parking will be reimbursed.

Participants will receive 7 CPDUs. All CPS participants are eligible for subsidized release time. Non-CPS educators are eligible for subsidized release time on an “as needed” basis from a limited pool of funds. Participants must attend the entire seminar to qualify for subsidized release time.

You must be registered to attend, and the deadline is April 6. (Already full, but you can check out more info and find out about the webcast)

There are lots of great free things to do on Martin Luther King Day in Chicago. Three of the leading museums have free admission on this holiday:

FREE Museum of Science and Industry on MLK Day – Jan 16
Come on out on MLK Day and enjoy the health-focused new “You! The Experience” gallery, and the awesome “Science Storms.” Science Storms reveals the science behind seven natural phenomena—lightning, fire, tornados, avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight and atoms in motion. Investigate the basic scientific principles behind nature’s power as you try more than 50 amazing experiments that take two floors and 26,000 square feet to contain … barely. It’s a perfect storm of physics, chemistry and curiosity. Also take in the renovated U-505 German submarine, a simulated coal mine and a glass-covered hatchery of chicks. Illinois residents can take advantage of free general admission on Monday, January 16.

FREE Shedd Aquarium on MLK Day – Jan 16
The Shedd aquatic galleries are home to creatures from the Waters of the World – rivers and reefs, Great Lakes and small ones, and the global ocean. So take a tour of the water planet. Want to explore a little deeper? Immerse yourself in the Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising’s flooded forest, the Oceanarium’s Pacific Northwest coast and Wild Reef’s Indo-Pacific reef. Go totally polar in Polar Play Zone and be sure to see Shedd’s aquatic show. Admission to original exhibits “Waters of the World,” “Caribbean Reef” and “Amazon Rising” is free to Illinois residents on Monday, January 16. Discounts are also available for packages that include entry to exhibits such as “Abbott Oceanarium,” “Wild Reef”and “Polar Play Zone.”

FREE Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Activities at the Chicago History Museum

Commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through family activities and crafts reflecting his messages of peace and justice. Listen to music that honors Dr. King, and attend a performance of The MLK Project by the Writers’ Theatre. Cost: Free Admission and includes complimentary Museum admission

Mark your calendars! Bring the family out to the North Park Village Nature Center on March 26 & 27, 2011 to experience the entire maple syrup making process, from tapping the tree and collecting sap to boiling it down to syrup. Stroll the sugar bush, enjoy storytelling and live music, make a craft, and taste homemade syrup.

Brookfield Zoo is a great field trip destination even in the winter months. They also have an abundance of free days in the next couple months. I like to look for warmish days that fall on these free days and enjoy some great outdoor time with my kids. The zoo offers plenty of educational content for a day of learning outside of your home “classroom.”

Even on free days you should plan on paying for parking, but general admission is free on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. You can also enjoy the Children’s Zoo and the Hamill Family Play Zoo every day of the week the rest of January and through February for free. The Family Play Zoo has some great indoor activities especially geared toward younger kids that can be a great way to enjoy the zoo even on a colder day.

Check the forecast and make some plans to enjoy the animals in their winter habitats.

The Adler Planetarium is free on May 4th with hours being 9:30am – 6pm during the summer; 10:00am – 4:00pm otherwise; Charter One Discount Days at the Adler are made possible by the generous support of the Charter One Foundation.

The Oriental Institute. Free every day (suggested donation of $7 adults, $4 children). Open Tues.-Sat. 10am-6pm (Wed. until 8:30pm), Sun. 12-6pm, closed Mondays. 1155 East 58th Street at University of Chicago.

Bring your kids to the free monthly LEGO mini-model build at any of the four Chicago area LEGO stores and take home a free mini-model that your child has constructed! On the first Tuesday of every month, LEGO has this free event and your children can learn how to build a cool mini model, and take it home – for free! A new model will be available every month and will be specially themed to that month – Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. See store for more details.

The** Chicago History Museum **is free on Mondays so come out in April 5, April 12, April 19 or April 26 2010 with the kids and family to see this Chicago museum devoted to collecting, interpreting, and presenting the rich multicultural history of Chicago and Illinois. Check out the outstanding “Abraham Lincoln Transformed” exhibit which closes on April 12 after a long run.

**Free Audio Download!** Each month Christianaudio.com gives away a premium audiobook download for free. How does it work? Well, they give away one audiobook download (that they have published or that a partner has allowed them to give away) absolutely free; available only during that month and only once, ever.